Need some windows for my house. Anyone replace windows recently and can share some tips? Looking for some middle of the road type windows. Got a quote today from Window World and it didn’t seem bad. But I know the windows they sell aren’t on the high end of the spectrum. Gonna get a few more quotes as well. Lots of brands and models out there. Any help would be appreciated.
Replaced mine about 7 years ago. Went with Pella. I’ve was really pleased with the installation and with the windows. Double pane, some sort of composite frame. Give them a call, get a quote.
I looked at Pella and Anderson. Went with Anderson based on price.
Expect to wait at least six months. I ordered mine in May and not one is installed yet.
I don’t imagine the backlog will clear for a while.
If you don’t need casement windows there may be other options, but I do along with a few customs so my options were limited to the two mentioned.
If you are anywhere near the coast, I’d go with hurricane resistant windows for the insurance deduction alone.
No hurricanes. Just tornadoes.
On the quote I got it was around $1k per window. Give or take some. From what I’ve read online, window pricing is all over the place.
Should still be a qualified deduction from your windstorm policy and usually pretty substantial. I’d also look into installation rebate incentives. Lots of programs out there. You can usually get almost 50% off everything if you are buying the right stuff.
Just got done, replacing all the windows in our house with renewal by Andersen. It actually went pretty well, it wasn’t until they started replacing the old windows that we realized our house was designed kind of oddly. it’s a brick house, and the windows are flush with the brick, instead of being recessed a little bit. You never notice it or think about it until you start looking at other houses. The house was built in 1942, and I’m starting to think the skilled labor had already left by then.
So the renewal system leaves a little bit of the old window, and especially the inside of the house, the same, and they just replace the outside window. A pretty slick little system. The material that call Fibrex is PVC and wood fibers, and then they cover it I believe with an acrylic coextrusion.
So we had close to 30 windows, and we went with that renewal system, because it left the interior part of the window, the same, which was important, because we have plantation shutters. If we had just straight, knocked out the windows and put replacement one in we probably would not have been able to use the same plantation shutters without rigging it, and while we didn’t put them in, we know they aren’t cheap, but we like them.
We have them installed after the weather had already turned, but our old windows which were wood and had been all replaced in the early 90s when they expanded the house we’re all impossible to open and close. They also wouldn’t hold paint to save their lives, and we’re a constant maintenance nightmare.
The palace I believe are built off of fiberglass cores. Which I think technically are stronger because they are Glassfield and thermoset polymers instead of the renewal PVC being thermal plastic.
That was about where we were IIRC. Casement, 3x2 mullion. fairly big. I had done research and knew that I was probably going to go Anderson and I saw one of those guys sitting outside the Ace Hardware on Saturday. I told him I was interested, and they enter you in a drawig for a free window or something. He asked how many windows, so I closed my eyes and went around the house in head and counted 28. On the contact form he put down 20, I don’t think he believed me… He gave me a ‘coupon’ to use when the sales person came to the house. When she came The Anderson sales lady said that I had gotten ‘golden ticket’ of coupons, but just good till tomorrow… sure. I get Anderson coupons now all teh time for some kind of deal. I think it is totally up to them how much the windows are… I never saw a price list with sizes and features.
I’m sure it isn’t linear, but you get what you pay for, and I think part of the issue is if you are having custom sized windows- which I would think a lot of replacement windows- especially if they are the ‘slip in’ ones. The instal crew ability is key too. Our crew was three people. THe guy who knew what he was doing installing the windows, the gopher/helper kid that helped the installer, and then the metal guy who was working up all the flashing to mate the window to the old frame/house. THe replacement ones leave a bit of the old window in there, so teh new window is smaller. I thought that was going to be a big issue, but frankly, I don’t notice it anymore, and never really did. Maybe with smaller windows it could be an issue as the percent change will probably be larger.
Can’t wait until spring to better enjoy the ability to bring in the cool evening air.
Low E glass, Energy Star rating, consider tint on windows that will receive heavy sun. Warranty, how long, materials and workmanship, warranty on installation? Is the warranty transferable? Does the mfg send a rep to inspect the installation? How about support for corrective work or breakage replacement.
Anderson, Milgard, Pella are good brands. You may have some good regional/local mfgs. Do some research. Learn the NFRC ratings.
Know you don’t have to go with duplicates of what you have as far and frame spacing and such. My sister was getting windows in her house and she just casually mentioned she hated how her kitchen window had a brace right in her line of view, dude said “no problem”, what if we make the center one large pane and change the edges to vertical window. Looks great now and no obstructions. So be sure to keep that in mind if you would like the cross bars or type of window layout changed.
A few qualifying questions-
Is this a long term or short term home to live in?
What’s your budget?
How many fenestrations do you have?
What type of window are you looking for- casement, awning, single hung, double hung, picture, sliders?
-typically people have a mix of types, but majority of one or two types.
What substrate are you installing into- brick, stucco, composite lap or batt and board siding?
Are you trying to reduce noise on any elevation of the home?
If it’s a long term home, I’d recommend you go Milgard Ultra Fiberglass windows.
Or if you want more bells and whistles and higher grade go with a Marvin fiberglass window.
Not all window installations are equal, so there are many things to consider when comparing companies.
Prices can be all over the place and I would caution you to never go with the lowest bidder on anything, especially windows.
Make sure they are going to re-establish the vapor barrier around the window, and insulate properly around the edge and not just cut the old window out, block install a new one in and caulk around the edge/transition.
If you provide some answers to my questions I can provide some insight on what to look out for and what to ask to make sure you get a quality product and install.
Everyone’s glass is the same, they all call it a different name and promise best performance, it’s all the same glass manufacturer applying the same film options, end window manufacturer just brands it with their Uber cool name and the sales person will show you a heat lamp and temp gun presentation to wow you.
Just use plastic sheeting.
I had some Lang brand windows installed 15 years ago. No complaints. I live near Shitcago. No hurricanes here, but nasty winters
All good questions. Home is 20 year old brick track home. Very common in North Texas. Probably be in this house another 10-15 years.
There can’t be too many different window manufacturers in the USA. I figure they’re like a lot of other things where the manufacturers will paint them any color and put any name you want on them. I’m guessing Pella makes their own, but if they don’t, is there way to get Pella windows under a different brand for cheaper is what I’m saying. Doesn’t have to be Pella, only used them as an example. Feel free to substitute any name brand quality window for Pella.
As far as budget goes, I’m not feeling the need for high end stuff. Maybe one level above builder grade.